Territory



(No Model.)

H- W. MURDOOK.

GOLD WASHER Patented May 8, 1894.

U ITED. S ATES PATENI Curios.

\HARVEY W. MURDOOK, on OGDEN, UTAHTERRITORY, AssIeNo on Two- ,THIRDS TO MURRAYR. STEWART.AND SAMUELHa ABBOTT, on SAME tail view of cam m.

PLACE.

GOLD-WASHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519, 506, dated May a, 1894. Application filed April 9,1892. Renewed March 28,1894. Serial No. 505,494. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, HARVEY W. MURDOOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ogden, in the, county of Weber and Territory of Utah, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Gold-Washers; and I do doclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will ence being had to the accompanying'draw- .ings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has special reference toa machine for separating precious metals from their ores and more particularly to that class known as ore washers.

The object sought by this invention is to produce a more durable and effective device than has heretofore been known, and one which may be manufactured cheaply and sold atalow cost. a

To this end it consists of certain novel 'fea: tures and combinations of parts Whichw'ill appear hereinafter and be pointed out in the claims. v V e i Referring to the accompanying drawings which represent a machine embodying'the essential features of my invention: Figure 1 represents a side elevation; Fig. 2 a longitudinal section, and Fig.3 a view in perspec-.

tive of the operating mechanism; Fig. 4 a de- The reference letter or represents the frame of my machine, which is of any preferred design, and may be constructed of either wood or metal. Hooks bare fixed to theinner side of the frame from which the shaking frame 0 is suspended. This frame is formed of three downwardly extending sheet metal sections 0 which are connected to each other by means I of a longitudinal strip 0 secured on their bottom, this may be clearly seen by reference.

to Fig. 2. Located in this frame are the sepa-' rator sections d formed preferably of sheet copper and amalgamated with qu'rcksilver on that portion of their surface over which the ore passes. These sections when in position are inclined at sucha n angle as to allow the ore to freely slide ddvvn their side aided by tied, this pocket serves to hold the metal ex tracted' from the ore until removed by an at tendant. Each side piece of these sections has a shoulder f and f formed on it, the

former whenv the two are in position being adapted to register with the latter, while the end g extends into the pocket e. By this means a tight and continuous passage for the .ore is provided. These sections are adjustably held between the vertical sides of the frame 0 by means of the rods h which pass through the holes 21 formed in the frame. Thus by adjusting the inclination of the separator sections the ore may be made topass through the machine with more or less rapidity'to suit the exigencies of the occasion, or the nature of the ore treated. As a means for further breaking and agitating the ore,

or openings Z formed therein are fixed to the side of the separator sections. The copper bars are fitted in the holes formed in these racks and may also 'beamalgamated with quicksilver to catch the metal, for which purpose the sections cl are amalgamated. As the ore is jostled down the incline surface of the separator sections it necessarily, comes into contact withthese bars and is agitated sufficiently to. cause the metal to be extracted from it.

The operating parts of the machine are given the rocking motion referred to by means of the mechanism illustrated by Fig.3. This mechanism'consists of the grooved eccentric m mounted in bearings 11 fixed to the. frame.

A rocking lever o fulcrumed at 0 is operated by this eccentric through the medium of frictionroller pwhich fits into the groove in the eccentric; Pivoted to the lower arm of the lever 0 is a connecting 'linkiq which is fixed to the frame 0. By revolving the eccentric by means of thecrank r it will be seen that an intermittent lateral reciprocating motion will be imparted to the separating frame. If,

it is desirous to employ power to operate the machine this may be done by mounting a pulley in place of the crank 1'.

To use the machine, the hopper sshould be filled with ore and water and the chute s so located that it will empty into the pocket of the upper separating section. As the ore is dumped into theseparatingsections the loose metal among it is deposited into the pocket and on account of its weight remains there, the balance of the ore however, is shaken out and rolls down the incline to the next pocket where the operationis repeated. A trough or chute t is located below the last separating section and receives the refuse, condnctin g it to such receptacle that may be provided for it. This operation continues until all the metal is extracted from the ore.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and original with me is- 1. In ,an ore separating machine,.a series of separator sections inclined in opposite directionsand having a pocket formed in their upper ends, said sections being arranged in a true vertical line so that the lower end of one will empty directly into the pocket of the one below it, and a series of rifiie-bars located i in the sections and arranged alternately one above the other, substantially as described.

2. In an ore separating machine, a series of separator sections inclined in opposite directions and located in a true vertical line, each section having the shoulders f, and f, and pockets 6 formed thereon and so arranged that when the parts are assembled such shoulders will register with each other and the chute Q will project into the pocket e of the section below it, substantially as described.

3. In an ore separating machine, the combination with astationary frame, of a swinging frame hung therefrom, a series of inclined separator sections located in the swinging frameand arranged in a true vertical line, a 

